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Just looking at this photo has brought back all kinds of great memories. It was back in the 90’s — ’93 I’m thinking — and I was at an Ogilvy worldwide creative directors’ meeting. Jim, who’s in the shot with me, was the creative director in our LA office.

He and I had met a year or two earlier, in New York, at David Ogilvy’s 80th birthday bash. Which is a whole other story. We (Jim and I) got along like a house on fire and we became fast Continue reading →

A friend and I were talking about New York the other day. I’ve been there hundreds of times over the course of my lifetime, but I had an instant flashback to one trip, in particular.

I was with my parents, my aunt and cousin. I was young, not yet a teenager. But not as young as I am in the photo with my parents. I was probably a year old, two at the most in this shot.

My parents and I used to go to New York every spring, for easter, for about a week or 10 days. My father went often for business, but as a family we went once a year, although occasionally more often. My mother was born there and Continue reading →

Yes, yes, I know some of you may not feel the same way. More’s the pity. But before you start haranguing me, let me be clear.

Today is not about what he did or did not do as President of the United States. That discussion (debate) will have to wait for another day. Today is about the man, his wife and their children; and why they’ll be missed.

It’s probably fair to say his 2008 win was not predicted, at least not when he first announced his candidacy. How could it have been? The young, relative newcomer was hardly a household name, even after he delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, although he did Continue reading →

There she stands in all her glory. The Statue of Liberty, the universal symbol of freedom and democracy, welcoming all immigrants arriving from abroad.

A UNESCO world heritage sight, she has been described as a “masterpiece of the human spirit that endures as a highly potent symbol—inspiring contemplation, debate and protest—of ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy and opportunity.”

What must she think of Donald Trump?

Considering all the vile and vicious garbage that flows freely and unchecked from those pouty lips of his, and all his ugly promises of Continue reading →

Are you familiar with the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? It was written by Robert Louis Stephenson in 1886. Essentially it’s about the two personalities that live within Dr. Jekyll — one being good, the other evil.

Could have been written about Donald Trump.

I met him once, you know. It was a very long time ago. Not long after he married his first wife, Ivanna. She was a model, one of Montreal’s most sought after. I was working in the fashion industry at the time, for the designer, Leo Chevalier. She was one of our favourites and we booked her constantly.

What I remember vividly is how, after she got married and moved to New York, she never abandoned all the models she’d Continue reading →

A friend’s grandson just turned 1 and I went to his birthday party. I was talking to her daughter’s (the baby’s mother) father-in-law and Ellen (my friend) said to him, “Fransi and I have known each other all our lives.” He was intrigued and wanted to know more.

Our mothers met in the laundry room of the apartment building where they both lived, in Montreal. I was an infant. Her parents were newlyweds. The Continue reading →

You love me already, I can tell. Hopefully you’ll come around once I’ve explained. What you’re looking at, right here, is a photo of a bottle of perfume. Alas, a virtually empty bottle of perfume.

A perfume with a scent so heavenly, so unique, so intoxicating, so irresistible, so evocative, so absolutely divine I get asked, all the time, by total strangers, men and women alike, what I’m wearing. One time a woman followed me for two blocks, until I had to stop at a red light, just to tell me how much she loved my cologne; and to ask for the name.

This is not my ego speaking, honest. I am someone who has a really difficult time finding a fragrance that doesn’t turn on me. You know, isn’t so sweet it makes you gag or even worse, just goes rancid the minute it hits my skin.

Several years ago, when I was reeling after the perfume I was wearing back then which, Continue reading →

Last week I wrote about the sorry state of the world. Ironically, at around the same time I was feeling overwhelmed by it all, a ‘gratitude’ challenge was making the rounds on Facebook. It was really interesting, and inspiring, to see what people were sharing.

I’ve been thinking about it ever since — and about the coincidence of the timing — and realize it’s for an important reason; and it carries an important message: No matter how bad or challenging life may seem we must acknowledge the good, what is working, what’s right, what’s positive.

Which doesn’t mean to say we should stop questioning, or paying attention or ignore what’s wrong or never feel sad or turn our backs on those who need our compassion and help. But we do have to learn to be grateful, to thank our lucky stars.

In my case, there’s a lot to be thankful for. Starting with the fact I woke up today. I know that sounds cliche, Continue reading →

It’s funny how we think we’ve forgotten all about certain events or issues and then one day something triggers a memory. And suddenly there it is, in the forefront of your mind. Dredged up from who knows where.

Which is exactly what happened to me when I read this WordPress Daily Prompt: “Tell us about a bullet you’re glad you dodged — when something awful almost happened, but didn’t.”

My ‘bullet’ happened long ago. Many, many years. I was in my early twenties and I was in Las Vegas with my parents. We were there during Christmas/New Years. We weren’t in Las Vegas the whole time, we also went to San Francisco first.

Several of my parents’ friends were with us, with their own kids — all of whom were around the same Continue reading →